Drinking Water Regulations - Process and Status

Last Update:  July 14, 2008

Process

The main steps in the regulations process include:

1. Review of the proposed regulation by CDPH's Office of Regulations and Hearings.
2. Review by CDPH's Budget Office.
3. Review by the Department of Finance.
4. Review by the Health & Human Services Agency.
5. Review by Office of Administrative Law (OAL), prior to publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register.  This announces availability of the regulation for the public comment period.
6. A 45-day public comment period.
7. There may be a 15-day public comment period, but only if changes are made in response to comments from the prior public comment period. 
8. Preparation of responses to comments and the final regulations package for approval by the CDPH Director’s Office.
9. Once signed, the package goes to OAL for final review for Administrative Procedure Act compliance—this can take up to 30 working days.
10. Following OAL approval, the regulation is filed with the Secretary of State, and becomes effective 30 days later.

When a maximum contaminant level (MCL) is proposed, there are additional steps prior to the formal regulations process.

Status

Click here for regulations and related documents from the Office of Regulations and Hearings.

The following regulations are proposed for adoption or are being developed for eventual proposal. Click on a link for the proposed regulation or draft document, or for other information about the regulation's status, if a draft regulation is not yet available. 

Arsenic MCL  - The proposed MCL's 45-day public comment period closed on July 11, 2008. 

Cross Connections (PDF) - in draft, and not yet in the formal regulations process.

Groundwater Recharge Reuse - also in draft.

Chromium-6 MCL - awaiting a public health goal, which is needed early in the MCL process.